Univ. of Georgia Team Page
URBANA, Ill.—The fourth-seeded Georgia women’s tennis team beat the 13th seeded Clemson Tigers 4-2 Friday afternoon at the Kahn Outdoor Tennis Complex to advance to the quarterfinals. The Bulldogs (24-3) will take on the winner of Southern California and Stanford on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.
This will be
Georgia’s 21st quarterfinal appearance in program history.
“It was a great match,” said head coach Jeff Wallace. “I thought Clemson played the best doubles point against us of the season. I was really impressed with how we responded in singles. I knew [after the break] that our players were ready to give it everything that they had. We got off to good starts on pretty much every court, and I felt like our players fought hard and kept their composure.
Georgia was able to overcome only its third lost doubles point of the season with a strong performance in singles.
In doubles, the nation’s top-ranked pair of Kate Fuller and Silvia Garcia dropped only their third match of the season, falling to Yana Koroleva and Beatrice Gumulya, 8-3. Lauren Herring and Maho Kowase evened the doubles point with an 8-3 win over Romy Koelzer and Tristen Dewar, but Tigers’ clinched the doubles point when Liz Jeukeng and Ani Miao beat Lilly Kimbell and Mia King, 8-1.
Herring, ranked sixth in the country, dropped a 6-2, 6-0 decision to No. 16 Yana Koroleva. The loss snaps Herring’s eight match winning streak. Shortly after, Fuller beat Romy Koelzer, 6-4, 6-1. The win is Fuller’s third in a row and 31st of the season. No. 104 Garcia evened the score with a 6-4, 6-3 win over No. 40 Gumulya, handing Gumulya her first loss since March 3rd. Garcia also avenged a two-set loss to Gumulya in February.
King put Georgia up 3-2 with her fifth win in a row, outlasting Tristen Dewar, 6-3, 1-6, 6-2. Shortly after, Kowase, ranked 19th in the country, punched Georgia’s ticket to the quarterfinals, winning a tightly contested 7-6 (4), 7-6 (2) decision. This marks Kowase's ninth match clincher of the season.
“I’m so happy to get the win [for the team],” Kowase said. “We fought so hard today and I think it really showed that we wanted it.”
Georgia is playing in its 27th consecutive NCAA Tournament, and now owns a 67-24 all-time record. The Bulldogs are aiming for their 11th National Semifinal appearance, and their first since 2009.
Fans will be able to follow along the Georgia Tennis Live Chat as well as view live scoring and live video on Georgiadogs.com as long as Georgia is playing.
No. 4 Georgia 4, No. 13 Clemson 2
Noon CT – South Courts
Singles
1. #16 Yana Koroleva (CLEM) def. #6 Lauren Herring (UGA) 6-2, 6-0
2. #19 Maho Kowase (UGA) def. Liz Jeukeng (CLEM) 7-6(4), 7-6(2)
3. #104 Silvia Garcia (UGA) def. #40 Beatrice Gumulya (CLEM) 6-4, 6-3
4. Kate Fuller (UGA) def. Romy Koelzer (CLEM) 6-4, 6-1
5. Ayaka Okuno (UGA) vs. Ani Miao (CLEM) 5-7, 6-3, 3-0*
6. Mia King (UGA) def. Tristen Dewar (CLEM) 6-3, 1-6, 6-2
Doubles
1. Koroleva/Gumulya (CLEM) def. #1 Fuller/Garcia (UGA) 8-3
2. Herring/Kowase (UGA) vs. Koelzer/Dewar (CLEM) 8-3
3. Jeukeng/Miao (CLEM) def. Kimbell/King (UGA) 8-1
Order of Finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (1,4,3,6,2)
* = unfinished
